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Peoples selected as new CCC governing board member

Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Risha VanderWey, right, gives the oath of office to Dr. Marie Peoples Tuesday afternoon at Coconino Community College as District Governing Board Chair Patricia Garcia observes the proceeding.

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- The Coconino Community College District Governing Board has a new member.
Dr. Marie Peoples was sworn in as a District Governing Board member Tuesday at 4 p.m. at the CCC Lone Tree Campus. She will be representing District 3, which includes Williams, Parks, Bellemont, Kachina Village, Mountainaire and south Flagstaff. Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Risha VanderWey appointed Peoples to the post.

“I am excited to serve on the CCC District Governing Board,” Peoples said. “Community colleges provide an incredible value to learners directly served and to the overall economic condition of the community. CCC prepares learners across the adult lifespan for careers and readies adult learners to transition onto continued higher education. I consider my appointment as a privilege and look forward to helping CCC pursue its vision.”

“We are thrilled that Superintendent VanderWey has appointed such an outstanding member of our community to fill the vacant seat on the board,” said DGB Chair Patricia Garcia. “We all look forward to working with Dr. Peoples at this important time in the evolution of our college.”

Peoples is the chief health officer for the Coconino County Public Health Services District. The District oversees programs that include Immunization and Sexual Health Services, Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, Environmental Services and the Medical Examiner’s Office. Peoples has master’s degrees in both Public Health and Sociology/Criminal Justice. She also has a Ph.D. in Public Health Epidemiology.

Before coming to Coconino County in 2013, Peoples was the director of public health for Cole County, Mo. She also served on the Jefferson City School Board during her time in Missouri.

Until recently, Peoples also served as a member of the CCC Foundation Board of Directors. Before Peoples could accept the District Governing Board position, she had to resign her post with the CCC Foundation Board of Directors.

Peoples takes over for Gioia Goodrum, who resigned her position in May. Goodrum served as vice chair and secretary. She was appointed to the board in December 2013 and was elected to the post in December 2014 to serve for two more years.

About Coconino Community College

Student success is the heart and purpose of Coconino Community College. CCC provides affordable tuition and a wide variety of certificates and degrees including career/technical programs with more than 60 certificate programs and two-year associate degrees in various fields including nursing, fire science, law enforcement and business.

Since 1991, CCC has served residents across 18,000 square miles of Coconino County. CCC has helped create the region's skilled workforce, which is improving overall health, safety and the economy in the region. Today, CCC serves more than 10,000 students per year with two campuses in Flagstaff.

CCC reaches out to the more rural portions of the County including Williams, the Grand Canyon/Tusayan, Page/Lake Powell, Fredonia, Tuba City and other remote areas on the Navajo, Hopi and Supai Tribal Lands. Instructional sites offer classes through online, in-person and Interactive Television classes to meet the needs of students in these rural and remote areas. Nearly 25 percent of CCC's students are Native American learners.